Taximeter.



Patented Sept 20, 1910.

rm: nmzms Psr sns ca., wasnmorcu, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRUMAN W. POST, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO POST LOCK REGISTER C0,, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TAXIMETER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TRUMAN WV. Posr, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, in the borough of Manhattan and State of New York, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Taximeters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to taximeters or fare recorders for automobiles.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a taximeter adapted to be exclusively controlled by a movable frame or appliance contained within the vehicle and which obstructs its passenger carrying space whenever the vehicle is not recording, so as to insure proper recording or registry of the fares when the vehicle is in use.

With the foregoing object in view my invention consists in a form of taximeter having an operating crank or lever positively controlled by the obstructing appliances within the body of the vehicle, and acting to put the taximeter into and out of its recording position by a positive movement through a slight tilt or angle of throw.

The invention further consists in the detail features of construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in side elevation, showing a taximeter and its operating parts embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view partly broken away showing the construction of the taximeter. Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the controlling crank or cam. Fig. 4 is a detail top view showing the cam which transmits the movement from the rotation of the wheels.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts are designated by the same reference sign, 1 denotes the body of a vehicle of the usual form and construction adopted in taximeter cabs.

2 indicates a taximeter fixed adjacent to the drivers seat and adjoining the usual partition 3, which separates the drivers seat from the tonneau or passenger carrying space of the vehicle.

4 denotes a swinging frame adapted to ob struct the passenger carrying space whenever the vehicle is not in use for carrying passengers. This frame 4: may be constructed in different ways and is more particularly made the subject of my com- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 20, 1909.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910. Serial No. 513,758.

panion application Serial No. 512,822. For the purposes of the present application any sort of obstructing frame or device may be used. In the form shown I provide a trellis hinged to the partition 3 on the axis 5, so as to swing upwardly against the partition 3 and be out of the way while the vehicle is carrying passengers. In accordance with the present invention I provide a taximeter particularly adapted to co operate with the foregoing obstructing frame.

9 denotes the usual box or housing of rectangular outline and 10 is a transverse shaft or arbor pivoted between the side walls of the casing 9 and having a crank 11 at one end which projects outside the said casing.

12 denotes a link connecting the crank 11 with a pivot point or stud 13 on the obstructing frame or trellis 4. The arran ement is such that the crank 11 and shaft 10 are positively oscillated whenever the obstructing frame 1 is moved.

14 designates a cam wheel fixed to the shaft or arbor 10 and preferably consisting of a circular disk having a flat or cut away face 15 on one side. 1. denotes a spindle also journaled between the side walls of the casing 9 and having a pinion 18 and ratchet wheel 19 fixed thereto.

, 20 denotes an arm loose on the spindle 17 and carrying a loose idler gear wheel 21 in permanent mesh with the pinion 18. The arm 20 projects into the path of the cam disk let and is adapted to rest against the flattened face 15 thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.

23 denotes a spring attached to the ends of the arm 20 for tensioning the same downwardly against the disk 14, so as to rest against the flattened face 15 thereof.

24- indicates a gear wheel so located in the taximeter casing as to be put in mesh with the gear wheel 21 when the latter is displaced upward by the action of the cam 14. This gear wheel 24 operates the usual driving train which actuates the usual recording disks of the taximeter, but these latter features form no part of the present invention.

The taximeter derives its motion from the wheels 30 of the vehicle through bevel gears 31, 32, and a flexible shaft 33, the latter being joined to a spindle 34: ournaled at 35 within the taximeter casing. This spindle a4. is located on an axis generally tangential to the ratchet wheel 19.

36 designates a plunger guided in bearings 37 of the casing 9 and normally spring pressed downward by a spring 38 acting upon a collar 39 of the said plunger.

40 denotes a pawl pivoted at the upper end of the plunger 36 and impelled into engagement with the ratchet wheel 19 by any suitable operating spring. The upper end of the spindle 34 has an enlarged head with a cam face 42 including a circumferential lug or elevation 43, which rotates in a path intersecting the lower end of the plunger 36 so as to elevate the latter at each revolution. The plunger is returned by the action of its spring 38, and obviously acts to impel the ratchet wheel 19 rotatably on its axis through the distance of one tooth at each rotation of the spindle 34.

The use and operation is as follows: While the vehicle is standing or moving without carrying passengers, the obstructing frame 4 is lowered in the manner shown in Fig. 1, so as to obstruct the passenger carrying space of the car. In this position the frame 4 draws the link 12 and the crank arm 11 into a relation where the arm 20 rests against the flat face 15 of the cam 14. Under these circumstances the gear wheel 21 is drawn downward out of mesh with the gear wheel 24 and the meter is out of recording position.

If now a passenger is to enter the vehicle it becomes necessary to first elevate the 0bstructing frame 4 out of the way, and this movement is accompanied by an oscillation of the crank 11 which is positively actuated by the link connection 12. The rocking of the crank 11 necessarily oscillates the cam disk 14 so that the flat face thereof is moved out from under the arm 20, and the latter elevated to its limit of movement where the gear 21 is in mesh with the gear 24. It will be observed that not only is this movement positively actuated to take place with absolute certainty, but the nature of the actuating mechanism is such that the gears are thrown completely into mesh whether the displacement of the obstructing frame 4 is great or little provided it is moved appreciably at all. This is particularly advantageous since it makes it impossible for any passenger in connivance with the driver to obtain an unrecorded ride by lifting the obstructing frame 4 to less than its full displacement. On the other hand, the complete displacement of the frame 4 results in no crowding or straining of the intermeshing gears, which are not pressed into any closer mesh or engagement by a complete movement of the said obstructing frame than by a slight movement.

It will of course be understood that other coupling means may be employed than links for insuring the invariable movement of the taximeter operating part when the obstructing frame or like member is displaced, and

the term coupling has been used in the claims in the sense that parts so referred to are so intimately related that movement of one normally insures movement of the other.

lVhat I claim, is

1. In combination with a vehicle having an obstructing member within its passenger carrying space; a taximeter having an oper ating part and also comprising rotatable registering means, elements of which are brought into operative relationship by a limited or by a completed movement of said part; and normally inseparable connecting means secured to said part and said member.

2. In combination with a vehicle having an obstructing member within its passenger carrying space; a taXimeter having an operating lever and further comprising ratchetdriven registering means, elements of which are brought into operative relationship by a movement of said lever; and a linked connection between said lever and said member, whereby the lever may be moved only when said member is moved.

3. In combination with a vehicle having means displaced by the entrance or presence of a passenger in the vehicle; a taXimeter having an operating lever and further comprising registering means, elements of which are brought into operative relationship by a movement of said lever; and linked connections between said first mentioned means and said lever.

4. In combination with a vehicle having means displaced by the entrance or presence of a passenger in the vehicle; a taXimeter having an operating part and further comprising registering means, elements of which are brought into operative relationship by a limited or by a completed movement of said part; and direct connecting means secured to said part and to a part of said means.

5. In combination with a vehicle; a taximeter having an operating part and cam actuated registering means; and means comprising a member movable with respect to a part of said vehicle whereby the said vehicle cannot be entered by a passenger until the taximeter has been placed in fare registering relation, said means further comprising elements normally inseparable connecting said taximeter operating part and said member.

6. In combination with a vehicle having an obstructing member within its passenger carrying space; a taXimeter having an operating lever and also registering means set in operation by a movement of said lever, said taXimeter further comprising a vertical spindle having a cam, a plunger having a pawl periodically displaced by said cam and a ratchet wheel engaged by said pawl for communicating motion to said registering means; and coupling connections between said frame and said lever.

7. In combination with a vehicle. a taXimeter having a casing and an operating part, and means comprising a member movable with respect to a part of said vehicle Whereby the vehicle cannot be entered by a passenger until the taXimeter has been placed in fare registering relation, said taximeter comprising a member carrying a cam acting.

element and a cam actuated element, said cam actuated element being inclosed Within the taximeter casing.

8. In combination With a vehicle, a tEtXlIl1 eter having a casing and an operating part, and means comprising a member movable with respect to a part of said vehicle Whereby the vehicle cannot be entered by a passenger until the taximeter has been placed in fare registering relation, said taximeter comprising a spindle carrying a cam, a movable element cooperating With said cam, said cam actuated element being inclosed Within the taximeter casing.

In Witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

TRUMAN lV. POST. Witnesses lVALDo M. CHAIIN, lVILLIAM C. LARY. 

